Apparatus for continuously grouping on a conveyor

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for continuously grouping or marshalling objects together on a conveyor includes the conveyor being divided into a first and a second conveyor section, where the second conveyor section has a higher speed than the first conveyor section. The conveyor sections have a common plane on which the objects are advanced. The conveyor sections each have two bending rollers in the common plane, each of which have a bending roller lying closely adjacent one another. Between the rollers placed adjacent one another is disposed an arrest member. The arrest member is movable through 90 degrees in relation to the common plane. The arrest member is moreover, together with the bending rollers, displaceable along the common plane.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for continuously groupingor marshalling of objects on a conveyor, the conveyor being divided intoa first and second conveyor section, with a common plane on which theobjects are advanced, both conveyor sections each having two bendingrollers in the common plane, of which each having a bending roller lyingplaced closely adjacent one another, and the second conveyor sectionrunning at a higher speed than the first conveyor section.

BACKGROUND ART

In the distribution of different objects, it is occasionally desirableto marshal or group together a given number of objects into a so-calleddistribution unit. The distribution unit may be held together indifferent ways; for example, the grouped or marshalled objects may beshrink-film wrapped, provided with a wrapping of paper or paperboard orbe held together by other means as a unit. Also as regards themanufacture of single-use disposable packages for foods, there is oftena need in the art, in particular for packages of smaller volumes, tomarshal or group them together into distribution units.

The single-use disposable packages may be manufactured from a paperlaminate or alternatively from plastic and may have variousconfigurations. A commonly occurring package shape is theparallelepipedic configuration. The packages are manufactured in afilling machine from a running material web, where the material web isformed into a product tube, is filled with product and severed to formindividual packaging containers which are thereafter finally formed. Thefinished packaging containers depart from the filling machine normallyon a conventional conveyor belt.

There are many ways of marshalling or grouping together a given numberof objects, such as packaging containers, before they are wrapped toform a distribution unit in a special machine. The commonest method isto cause a brake or an arrest device intermittently to release apredetermined number of objects from a long row of objects. The numberof objects is normally monitored by photocells or the like.

With filling machines that have constantly increasing capacity formanufacturing single use packages, the demands on the equipment or themachines that handle the packages before distribution are alsoincreasing. The same applies to those machines that manufacturedistribution units, such as shrink-film wrapped units. In order to beable to increase capacity output, it is necessary that the packagesreach these machines already pre-grouped into the number desired. Theapparatuses that marshal or group together the objects, i.e. thepackages, must operate continuously.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to realise an apparatus whichgroups a continuous row of objects advanced on a conveyor, withoutstopping the advancement of the objects during the grouping operation.

A further object of the present invention is to realise an exact andreliable grouping without employing monitoring, for example in the formof photocells or the like.

Solution

These and other objects have been attained according to the presentinvention 20 in that the apparatus of the type disclosed by way ofintroduction has been given the characterising features that, betweenthe above-mentioned bending rollers placed adjacent one another, thereis disposed an arrest member which is movable through 90° in relation tothe common plane, and that the above-mentioned bending rollers, togetherwith the arrest member, are displaceable along the common plane.Preferred embodiments of the present invention have further been giventhe characterising features as set forth in the appended subclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

One preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be describedin greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanyingDrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the function of the apparatus in stepsA–E.

The Drawings show only those parts and details essential to anunderstanding of the present invention and the positioning of theapparatus in its context has been omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus according to the present invention withoutobjects 1 and where the positioning of the various parts is clearlyapparent, while FIG. 2 schematically shows the function of the apparatusand how the objects 1 are marshalled or grouped into desired groups. Thedirection of movement of the objects 1 through the apparatus isindicated by arrows on the Drawings.

The apparatus includes a conveyor divided into a first 2 and a second 3conveyor section. The conveyor sections 2, 3 consist of driven, endlessbelts or chains which have a common plane 4 on which the objects 1 areadvanced. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the conveyor may be divided intofurther sections 5 if desired, or if needs arise for further grouping ofhandling of the objects 1. The following description encompasses theconveyor sections 2 and 3, but can correspondingly also apply to thesection 5.

Each conveyor section 2, 3 has a bending roller 6, 7 placed closelyadjacent one another in the common plane 4. The conveyor sections 2, 3also have a driving roller 8, 9, which in the preferred embodiment, isplaced under the common plane 4 of the conveyor sections 2, 3. Thesecond conveyor section 3 in the direction of movement of the objects 1is driven at a higher speed than the first conveyor section 2. The speeddifference is at least 10% in the preferred embodiment. However, thespeed difference must not be too great, which might cause objects 1 of arelatively high centre of gravity to topple over.

In the common plane 4, there are each additional bending rollers 10, 11.Under the common plane 4, each conveyor section 2, 3 displays additionalbending rollers 12–17 whose function will be described below. Thebending rollers 6, 7, 10, 11 which are placed in the common plane 4 areall of slight diameter in order to facilitate the transport of theobjects 1 on the conveyor sections 2, 3. Alternatively, these bendingrollers 6, 7, 10, 11 may be substituted by some form of bent rails.

Between the bending rollers 6, 7 placed adjacent one another, there isdisposed an arrest member 18. The arrest member 18 is secured on abracket 19 together with the bending rollers 6, 7. The bracket 19 ismovably disposed on a rail or a guide 20 which is oriented parallel withthe common plane 4. By means of a piston and cylinder assembly (notshown), the bracket 19 is movable along the common plane 4. The pistonand cylinder assembly may be pneumatic or hydraulic. Alternatively, themovement of the bracket 19 may be guided by a servo motor or a camcurve. As a result of the movement of the bracket 19, the arrest member18 moves between two end positions, a forward end position 21 (in thedirection of movement of the objects 1) and a rear end position 22.

The arrest member 18 is moreover disposed to reciprocate through 90° inrelation to the common plane 4. Thus, the arrest member may move betweenan upper end position where the arrest member 18 is located above thecommon plane 4 and a lower end position where the arrest member 18 islocated under the common plane 4. The movement of the arrest member 18is guided in the preferred embodiment by a piston and cylinder assemblywhich may be pneumatic or hydraulic. Alternatively, the movement of thearrest member 18 is guided by a cam curve.

Of the bending rollers which each conveyor section 2, 3 has positionedunder the common plane 4, bending rollers 13, 14 and 16, 17 are securedon the same bracket 19 as the arrest member 18 and the bending rollers6, 7 are secured on. As a result of the movement of the bracket 19reciprocally along the common plane 4, the length of the conveyorsections 2, 3 is altered in the common plane 4. In that theabove-disclosed bending rollers 13, 14 and 16, 17 accompany thismovement, the change in length is compensated for.

FIG. 2 shows the function of the apparatus in a number of subdrawingsA–E. In FIG. 2A, the apparatus is in the starting position. The arrestmember 18 is located at its upper end position, i.e. it is locatedwholly above the common plane 4. Further, the arrest member 18 islocated approximately centrally between the forward and rear endpositions. In this position, the objects 1 form a queue behind thearrest member 18 and are held there by the arrest member 18 but withoutbeing obstructed in their forward movement.

In FIG. 2B, the arrest member 18, and thereby also the bending rollers6, 7, have moved forward to the forward end position 21. At the sametime, the arrest member 18 has moved downwards so that it is located inits lowermost end position at the same time as being located in itsforward end position 21. The first object 1 a will then move over to thesecond conveyor section 3. As a result of the higher speed of the secondconveyor section 3, the first object 1 a begins to accelerate and asmall gap opens up between the first 1 a and the second 1 b objects.

In FIG. 2C, the arrest member 18 has, together with the bending rollers6, 7, moved back until the arrest member 18 reaches its rear endposition 22. The arrest member 18 is located, throughout the entiremovement, in its lower end position under the common plane 4. Duringthis movement, the number of objects 1 which it is desired will begrouped together has moved in onto the second conveyor section 3. Thedistance M between the forward end position 21 and the rear end position22 must thus be varied depending upon how many objects 1 are to begrouped together.

FIG. 2D shows that moment when the arrest member 18 and the bendingrollers 6, 7 once again move forward, at the same time as the arrestmember 18 begins to move upwards. This entails that the gap between thelast grouped object 1 c and the next object 1 d in the sequence widens.The increased gap provides the arrest member 18 with the opportunity tocontinue up to its upper end position without disturbing the objects 1which are continuously transported on the two conveyor sections 2, 3.

FIG. 2E is identical with FIG. 2A. The arrest member 18 is in its upperend position and holds back the queue of objects 1. The movement cycleis now completed and can thereafter be re-started in accordance with theabove description. The objects 1 constantly move forward in thedirection of the arrow so that they are continuously grouped.

No photocells or other detectors are necessary for grouping objects 1 inthe apparatus according to the present invention. The distance M whichthe arrest member 18 moves between its forward end position 21 and itsrear end position 22 determines the number of objects 1 which are to begrouped together.

As will have been apparent from the foregoing description, the presentinvention realises an apparatus for the continuous grouping of objectswhich are advanced on a conveyor. The apparatus makes for rapid andreliable grouping together without the use of photocells or otherdetectors and without the objects being arrested in their movement onthe conveyor.

1. An apparatus for continuously grouping or marshalling of objects, comprising: a conveyor on which the objects are adapted to be placed for advancement, the conveyor being divided into a first and second conveyor section, with a common plane on which the objects are advanced, both conveyor sections each having two bending rollers in the common plane, of which each having a bending roller lying placed closely adjacent one another, the second conveyor section running at a higher speed than the first conveyor section, an arrest member disposed between said bending rollers placed adjacent one another, the arrest member being movable through 90° in relation to the common plane; and means for displacing said bending rollers, together with the arrest member, along the common plane.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the speed of the second conveyor section is at least 10% higher than the speed of the first conveyor section.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrest member moves between an upper and a lower end position; and that the arrest member also moves between a forward end position and a rear end position.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the distance between the forward and the rear end positions determines the number of objects which are grouped together.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arrest member and said bending rollers placed adjacent one another are secured to a common bracket.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the common bracket is movable along a guide positioned parallel with the common plane.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first conveyor section is operated to advance the objects in an advancing direction, the bending rollers are together with the arrest member displaceable longitudinally in a direction opposite the advancing direction.
 8. A method for continuously grouping or marshalling objects on a conveyor, the conveyor comprising: a first conveyor section and a second conveyor section positioned in a common plane on which the objects are placed, each of the first and second conveyor sections comprising two bending rollers in the common plane, one of the bending rollers of the first conveyor section and one of the bending rollers of the second conveyor section being positioned closely adjacent one another, the method comprising: operating the first and second conveyor sections so that the second conveyor section is running at a higher speed than the first conveyor section, moving an arrest member disposed between the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section 90° in relation to the common plane, and moving the arrest member together with the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section along the common plane.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the movement of the arrest member 90° in relation to the common plane comprises moving the arrest member from an upper position in which the arrest member blocks objects on the first conveyor section from being advanced to the second conveyor section to a lower position in which the arrest member permits the objects on the first conveyor section to be advanced to the second conveyor section.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the movement of the arrest member together with the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section along the common plane comprises the arrest member moving together with the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section in a direction in which the objects are advanced.
 11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein following movement of the arrest member together with the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section in the direction in which the objects are advanced, the arrest member moves together with the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section along the common plane in a direction opposite to the direction in which the objects are advanced.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the movement of the arrest member together with the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section along the common plane comprises the arrest member moving together with the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section in a direction which the objects are advanced.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein following movement of the arrest member together with the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section in the direction in which the objects are advanced, the arrest member moves together with the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section along the common plane in a direction opposite to the direction in which the objects are advanced.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second conveyor section is moved at a speed at least 10% higher than the speed of the first conveyor section.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the movement of the arrest member 90° in relation to the common plane comprises the arrest member moving between an upper end position and a lower end position; and the movement of the arrest member together with the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section comprises moving the arrest member together with the one bending roller of the first conveyor section and the one bending roller of the second conveyor section between a forward end position and a rear end position.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein a distance between the forward end position and the rear end position determines the number of objects which are grouped together.
 17. An apparatus for continuously grouping or marshalling of objects, comprising: a conveyor on which the objects are adapted to be placed for advancement, the conveyor being divided into a first and second conveyor section, with a common plane on which the objects are advanced, both conveyor sections each having two bending rollers in the common plane, of which each having a bending roller lying placed closely adjacent one another, the second conveyor section running at a higher speed than the first conveyor section, an arrest member disposed between said bending rollers placed adjacent one another, the arrest member being movable through 90° in relation to the common plane, said bending rollers are, together with the arrest member, displaceable along the common plane, wherein said arrest member and said bending rollers placed adjacent one another are secured to a common bracket, and wherein the common bracket is movable along a guide positioned parallel with the common plane. 